Mission Eastis a Danish international relief and development organisation, working in Eastern Europe and Asia. Our aim is to deliver relief aid, to create and support long-term development projects and to empower local aid organisations to carry on the work independently. Making no racial, religious or political distinction between those in need, we aim to assist the most vulnerable.

Opening of the Children's Club in Armavir town

As part of the 'Healthy Start' Project, Mission East and Nur, our local NGO partner in the western region of Armavir, are working closely with community leaders to establish children’s clubrooms in 11 communities in Armavir Region. The purpose of the clubrooms is to provide an environment in each community where disabled and non-disabled children can meet, get to know each other, and spend time together pursuing activities of mutual interest.
The region of Armavir, located between the four peaked mountain of Aragats and the Biblical mountain Ararat, is one of eleven regions of the republic of Armenia. It is famous for its fertile lowlands and beautiful landscapes, but in recent years has been known for the extreme poverty and unemployment that hit the region following the collapse of the Soviet Union with the inherent loss of markets for the agricultural products Armavir is famous for – fruits, vegetables and wine. Those who have employment are mostly seasonal agricultural workers, and therefore most skilled men have left their homes and have sought employment abroad, mostly in Russia. The women are often left to themselves, spending months, sometimes years, without any news from their husbands, having to survive on the meagre funds that sometime arrive, taking care of their children, and trying to make ends meet by taking odd jobs in the fields.

October 10th was a memorable day for Mission East and our local partner in Armavir, Nur. On that day, we jointly celebrated the first anniversary of Nur as an NGO, and also the opening of the newly reconstructed Armavir city Children’s Clubroom, which also has office space for Nur.
This was the 5th such clubroom established within the framework of ‘A Healthy Start’ project, and six more are planned to be opened during the coming months.

40 guests came to celebrate the opening, including representatives of the District Governor’s office, international organizations and a representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the national church of Armenia.